What is Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)?
Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), also known as Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDDs), cause severe and pervasive impairment in thinking, feeling, language, and the ability to relate to others. These disorders are usually first diagnosed in early childhood and range from a severe form, called autistic disorder, through pervasive development disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS), to a much milder form, Asperger syndrome. They also include two rare disorders, Rett syndrome and childhood disintegrative disorder. Parents are usually the first to notice unusual behaviors in their child. In some cases, the baby seemed “different” from birth, unresponsive to people or focusing intently on one item for long periods of time. The first signs of an autism spectrum disorder can also appear in children who had been developing normally. When an affectionate, babbling toddler suddenly becomes silent, withdrawn, self-abusive, or indifferent to social overtures, something is wrong. There is no s
Related Questions
- What is the chance that a younger brother or sister of a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) will also have an ASD?
- Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) need structure. How does Conscious Discipline help?
- What is an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or a pervasive developmental disorder (PDD)?
